Switch and coil-box lock



DE WITT TY GRIFFITH SWITCH AND COIL BOX LOCK. APPLICATION FILED mu 1;, 1918.

Patented June 17, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 m: [mums Perms 00., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. n cy DE WITT T. GRIFFITH. SWITCH ANDICOIL BOX LOCK.

APPLICAT ON FILED JULYILIQIS,

Patented June 17, 1919.

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DE WI'IT '1. GRIFFITH, OE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

SWITCH AND COIL-BOX LOCK.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,DE WITT T. GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch and Coil- Box Locks, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same. 7

The present invention relates to improvements in switch and coil box locks, and it is an object of the invention to provide such comparatively easy to make thefts of the coils. Such coil boxes carry on their exterior switch casings into' -which removable keys maybe inserted, these keys are employed to switch on the ignition circuits.

These keys are generally made removableso that the proprietorof the automobile inay withdraw same when leaving his car to reduce the possibility of theft; but, as these keys are generally of standard make, it is easy for thieves to provide themselves with It is an object of the a switch coverwhich will close upon the off with the vehicle.

switch'key and effectually prevent the operation of the same" or other tampering therewith that would-enablea thief to make With the foregoing and ing parts in the several views Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a 'coil box shown equipped' witth a locking device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Specification of Letters'latent.

invention-to provide other objects: in 7 view the invention consists in thecombinations and arrangements ofparts as herein- Patented June 1'2, 1919.

Application filedlifly 17, 1918. Serial No. 245,364.

gig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof; an

Fig. 3is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the exception that in the latter view certain partsare shown in section and the switch cover is shown in the open position.

is designated at 4L I provide a slot 5 near the upper end of the strap 2 for engagement by a curved lip 6 formed on the upper free end of the strap 1, and by which I secure :an interlocking engagement of the two straps this point. The strap 2 is continued horizontally beneath the coil box 3, as

indicated at 7., and the right hand end is made to project for a considerable distance beyond the front wall of said coil box.

The strap 1 is bent downwardly into a portionS which lies against the front part ofthe coil box cover l, and such strap is further bent into a horizontally extending portion *9 and a vertical portion 10 embracing, respectively, the top and front face ofthe switch casing 11. The vertical portionlO of said strap is continued 'for a considerable distance below the bottom of the switch casing and coil box, and is provided with an opening 12 through which passes the projecting end 13 of the horizontal llaranch 7 of the strap 2. A lug 14: is. bent down from the projecting end 13 to bind against the side of the opening 12 in order to hold the straps interlocked at this point. I preferably make an opening 15 in the projecting end 13 in order to re .ceive a padlock, ifdesirable.

A lock casing 16 is held',for instance, by rivets 17 to the extended lower end 18 of the strap portion 10, and in said casing is arranged a locking bolt 19 adapted to be operated by a key 20 held by the proprietor of, the vehicle. Said locking bolt 19 is 2 adapted to engage through an opening 21 in :acatch 22 bent at right angles from the free end of a switch cover 23. This switch cover is also formed with an opening 24 made to receive the projecting strap end 13. The material removed to provide this opening 24: is'utiliZed, as a lug 25, also projecting substantially at right angles from the plane of the switch;cov.er 23 and so disposed as to pass through a slot 26 in the vertical portion 10 of the strap 1 when the switch cover is closed, as shown in Fig. 1.

The arrangement of lugs and openings assists to guide the switch cover in place and to hold same rigid when closed.

Curled ears 27 are formed on the top of the switch cover 23, the same being made to register with a rolled eye 28 bent down and outwardly from the upper end ofthe vertical strap portion 10. A pintle 29 passes through the alined ears 27 and eyes 28, and forms a hinged joint upon which the switch cover 23 may work. One or more springs 30 are preferably associated with the hinged joint, they being so arranged as to auto1natically raise the cover 23 to the open position shown in Fig. 3 immediately upon releasing the lock mechanism. A bulged part 31 is formed in the switch cover 23 in order to provide a housing for the switch key 32. The manner in which this bulged part 31 engages about the key 32 is best seen in Fig. 1, where it will be apparent that the key may be moved neither to the right nor left, as is necessary to cut in the ignition circuits, and the key furthermore may not be removed. The object of the device is to hold the key 32 in the neutral position with the ignition circuits cut out, which effectually prevents operation and theft of the vehicle.

In the lower extension 18 of the vertical strap portion 10 there is made an opening 35 just above the cylinder of the spring lock 16, so that the catch 22 on the switch cover may pass through as the cover is moved to the closed position shown in Fig. 1. It is,

' of course, also understood that in front of the switch casing 11 the vertical portion 10 of the strap 1 will be perforated to admit the switch key 32, and there are also perforations 36 made in this strap portion 10 at such points as register with the heads of the screws 33 employed to holdthe' front plate of the switch casing 11,. By the provision of such perforations 36 it will be understood that the straps 1 and 2 may be ap plied without the use of screws or bolts, or other fastening means of any kind except such fastenings as are carried by the straps themselves, which have already been described.

As shown in Fig. 2, the portion 10 of the strap 1 is expanded laterally in the form of a disk to cover the face of the switch casing '11, and the cover 23 is likewise made in sub- 'stantially the same. way so that such cover may conceal and prevent access to the heads of the screws 33.

It will be understood that the device may be applied by first fitting the straps 1 and 2 cover 23 in the raised position appearing in Fig. 3, so as not to interfere with the free operation of the switch key 32 during normal running.

It is a simple operation to move this switch cover 23 from the open position shown in Fig. 3 to the closed position shown in Fig. 1, and in so doing the catch 22 will be automatically lockedby the bolt 19. If desirable or found necessary, a padlock may be also inserted through the opening 15 in the projecting end 13 of the strap part 7, and this padlock, of course, aflords additional security against theft; but ordinarily the spring lock operable by the key 20 will be found sufficient. This key 20 is, of course, retained by the proprietor about his person, and the switch key 32 is held against operation and also the coil box cover 1 is held securely in place until the lock or bolt 19 is withdrawn from the catch 22, at which time the springs 30 will open the cover 23 and the vehicle is again in condition for operation.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do notwish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

I claim 1. In combination with a coil box having a cover, and a switch casing having a face plate held thereon by screws and operable by a switch key, of straps passing about the coil box and cover, said straps being formed into cotiperating parts whereby the meeting ends thereof are secured together, a portion of one of said straps fitting about the switch casing, a cover hinged to the last mentioned portion of said strap and adapted to conceal the screws holding said faceplate and the switch key, a catch carried by said last mentioned cover and arranged to pass through one of said straps, and locking means for engaging said catch to hold the cover closed, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a coil box having a cover, and a switch casing adapted to be operated by a key, a pair of straps adapted to pass about the casing and cover, said straps having respectively slots and curved lips whereby the'same are fitted together, a portion of one of the straps passing about the switch casing, a switch cover hinged to the last mentioned portion of strap and.

adapted to conceal the switch key, a catch carried by said switch cover, and means for engaging said catch whereby to lock the switch cover closed, substantially as described. a

3. In combination with a coil box having a cover and a switch casing having a' face plate held to the casing by screws, of a pair of straps passing about thecoil box, cover and switch casing, said straps having interlocking parts at their meeting ends, a switch cover hinged to one of the straps and adapted to close against the switch face plate to conceal said screws, and the switch key, a catch having an opening therein extending from the free end of said switch cover and adapted to pass through one of said straps, a lock casing secured to one of said straps, and a locking bolt in said casing adapted to enter the opening in said catch whereby to hold the switch cover in the closed position, substantially as described.

4. An improved switch and coil box lock of the character described, including a bar of strong metal straps adapted to pass about the coil box and cover, one of said straps having a slot near one end thereof, a curved lip carried by the other strap and adapted to pass through and interlock With said slot, one of said straps having an opening therein near the other end thereof to receive the projecting end of the other strap, a lug on said projecting end adapted to engage with the side of said opening to interlock the straps, said projecting end adapted to receive a padlook, a switch cover hinged to one of said straps and adapted to close against the face of said switch casing, a catch carried by said switch cover, and a spring lock adapted to engage with said catch to hold the cover closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

DE WITT T. GRIFFITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents, Washington, D. G. 

